The Baltimore Ravens have their first 14-win season in history, and the first seed in the AFC to go with it.
So why am I writing a mock draft before the year is even over? Because it’s never too early.
And so, here is my first 7-round mock draft for the Ravens. Please remember that this is subject to change as team needs change, or as draft stock rises/falls.
For the first three rounds, I’ll list three prospects on my board:
- Who most Ravens fans want.
- Who wouldn’t shock me.
- The pick.
Let’s begin.
Round One
Who Most Ravens Fans Want: Kenneth Murray, ILB, Oklahoma
Who Wouldn’t Shock Me: Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
The Pick: Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama
The Baltimore-Alabama pipeline keeps flowing, with Ozzie Newsome still in the building, and boy do the Ravens land a stud with the (projected) 32nd pick in the draft, as one of the Top 5 EDGE rushers in the draft falls into their lap.
A position that has been inconsistent-at-best all year gets help from an explosive rusher. Lewis is intense, long, and uses his momentum well, thanks to a mean first step that helps him get inside of a blocker quickly.
While he does have a bit of an injury history and needs some refinement as far as reading pre-snap, Lewis is still a Day 1 starter, and brings a boost to the EDGE position that has a rough-around-the-edges (pun intended) Jaylon Ferguson behind Matthew Judon.
(Ed note: With a name like Terrell Lewis, this guy was born for Baltimore, right?)
*Lewis was available at 32 in 27 of 32 mock drafts, with a projected grade of Rd.1/ERd.2*
Also considered: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Round Two
Who Most Fans Want: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Who Wouldn’t Surprise Me: Ben Bredeson, iOL, Michigan
The Pick: Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
Joshua Bynes and L.J. Fort have played better than anybody could’ve hoped after being signed off of the street in the middle of the season. Fort even got an extension because of it. Add in the fact that (regardless of reports) John Harbaugh and Patrick Onwuasor have been getting into it as of late, and you have to think that the Ravens go for an inside linebacker early.
Enter Troy Dye. He’s an athletic MIKE with the ability to play WILL, which would make him a perfect fit for Wink Martindale’s 1-ILB sets. He processes and diagnoses quickly, with 13 sacks over a four-year career at the ILB position. He can cover TEs, plays well in space, and is a sure tackler. He would also be a special teams stud, something that the Ravens would be very pleased with.
While he’s a little undersized for what he would be asked to do, he has some room to add weight and strength. The downside of that is, it would negate what little ability he has to set the edge, and would make him an inside rusher only, with no versatility to be moved around.
*Dye was available in 24/32 mock drafts done, with a projected grade of ERd.2*
Round 3
Who Most Fans Want: Michael Pittman, Jr., WR, USC
Who Wouldn’t Surprise Me: Solomon Kindley, OL, Georgia
The Pick: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, ASU
I know, I know. Ravens fans have a lot of hope for Miles Boykin, after he became better the more that he played. But hear me out: when Willie Snead leaves in 2021, Boykin is going to be the Big Slot.
So the Ravens will need another outside threat, and Lamar Jackson likes his bigger targets. Aiyuk is over 6’1″, around 210 pounds, so he has some room to add a little bit of weight/strength as a ‘True-X’ receiver. He has a competitive spirit, which helps with his jump balls, and he’s athletic to boot. His forty time at the combine will likely lie to fans, but he has good speed on deep routes and on the perimeter. He’s a game-breaker with phenomenal after-the-catch movement.
He’s a third-round receiver, so there are some cons: he has displayed issues in press coverage, something that is coachable. He’s slow to accelerate, so bigger corners may give him trouble, especially at the line. Like I mentioned earlier with his size, he’s not great at blocking, which is something he’ll be asked to work on immediately upon coming to Baltimore.
*Aiyuk was available in 22/32 of mock drafts done, with a projected grade of Rd.3*
Round 4
The Pick: Lloyd Cushenberry, iOL, LSU
Any Ravens fan want a massive, athletic lineman that can play both center and guard?
Let me introduce you to Cush. At 6’4″ and 315+ pounds, you’d think he’s just a bulldozer in the run game, and a statue in the passing game. You’d be wrong. Cushenberry is at his best in space, when he gets to the second-level for zone blocks. While he’s in the box, he looks to remove opponents’ heads from their shoulders, but he needs to work on his feet and shoulder placement at the point of attack.
There’s a very solid chance that Cush goes earlier than I have him, but I think that his lack of consistency when contacting, and when facing an inside speed rusher, keep him in the middle rounds. He can get overrun here and there by sheer power, and needs to learn to use his size more appropriately.
Round 4
Comp Pick: Leki Fotu, iDL, Utah
The Ravens could use more consistency in rushing from the defensive line. One way to attack that problem is drafting Leki Fotu. For a 325-pound lineman, he is surprisingly fast, displaying an insane first step when rushing. Couple that with the ability to process very quickly, and he arrives in the backfield faster than you’d think he could.
I’m not a fan of his lateral ability, and he needs to display more consistency when bull-rushing, since he doesn’t have much in the way of a follow-up move. Assuming he can improve those areas, and he’s a steal in the fourth round.
Round 5
The Pick: Khalid Kareem, EDGE, Notre Dame
You thought I was done fixing the problem? Nope. Instead, I’m bringing on a guy that has some problems of his own, with a high ceiling.
Kareem has the physical traits that you’d want from an outside rusher, but needs to learn how to use them more consistently. His run defense is worse than his pass rush, which makes him a situational guy, but he can take over duties from people that haven’t performed up to par as yet (looking at you, Tyus Bowser) and can contribute on special teams as well.
Round 5
Comp Pick: Lamar Jackson, DB, Nebraska
If you thought I was going to use the ‘free’ pick on somebody else, you don’t know me that well. Do better.
The fact that the Ravens locked up Marcus Peters for another three years gives them some flexibility in the draft when it comes to defensive backs, and the depth of the corner class gives them even more, as they don’t have to attack the position early.
The other Lamar Jackson is big for a corner – 6’3″, 220 pounds – which means he’d be able to match up with any of the big receivers in the league and not be a mismatch, physically speaking. He uses his size well, forcing receivers off of their routes early, and winning in most hand-fight situations. Jump balls are true 50/50 balls for Jackson due to his size, though I’d like to see more ball skills from him in those situations, as he prefers to play the receiver.
His size is also his downside. It takes away from lateral movement and keeps his hips stiff, making him a surefire outside corner – or safety. (The latter could be a plus for Baltimore, who like to move their DBs around.)
Plus.. the name. I mean, come on.
Round 6
The Pick: Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn
Davidson is a semi-versatile weak-side defensive end that can thrive in the right situation – and that’s exactly what he is, situational. He wins with his hands and sheer power, due to his lack of fluid hips. He’s not going to win with bend or around the corner, his energy and determination give him a foundation for a solid rotational or backup career.
Round 7
The Pick: K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson
Wallace is a small safety, who could likely be a good backup slot corner option – the reason he grabs the last spot. He’s had experience in the slot with Clemson, and since Tavon Young has had a couple of injuries now, the Ravens need to find a suitable option to back him up, since Marlon Humphrey should be the rCB instead of kicking inside.
In Closing
Honestly, this was a tough mock draft to do, since the Ravens don’t have that many holes to fill. I’d like to think that, without knowing what free agency is going to look like, or who’s going to leave, I fixed their problems.
Disagree? Come find me on Twitter, @LateRoundCorner.
Until then, everybody be safe tonight, and Happy New Year!
